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Sources: Conroy, Tulane agree to multi-year contract extension

Sources: Conroy, Tulane agree to multi-year contract extension

Associated Press file photo by SUE OGROCKI -- Tulane coach Ed Conroy on Princeton: 'We know we’ll have our hands full, and will have to have a heck of an effort on the defensive end to compete and take on this challenge. They are really skilled, they can really spread you out, and they cause a lot of matchup problems. On short preparation, it’s a tough challenge, but one that is great for us.'

Several sources told The Advocate the Green Wave’s men's basketball coach has agreed to a multi-year extension with the school.

Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson publicly said he hoped to add years to Conroy's contract in an interview last month.

The contract extension has not yet been signed, but is expected to be completed within the next three days, securing Conroy’s future at the school where he’s compiled a 65-65 record since the 2010-2011 season.

Conroy recently finished his fourth season at the school, leading Tulane to a 17-17 record (8-8 in Conference USA) and a first-round loss to Princeton in the CBI.

After consecutive losing seasons to start his tenure, including identical 3-13 records in Conference USA, Conroy led Tulane to a 20-15 (6-10) season in 2012-13 ,but lost his top two underclassmen to transfer – point guard Ricky Tarrant and forward Josh Davis – in the offseason.

Still, Dickson said he believed the program bounced back last year, earning the school's best conference record since 2006-07, gaining the faith of the Tulane administration.

“It was clear to me that the team grew as the season went along,” Dickson said last month. “I think that was important and showed what kind of coach he was and the progress we were making.”

Conroy came to Tulane in the wake of Dave Dickerson’s forced resignation in 2010, after posting a 36-29 record at The Citadel in his final two seasons, following a 13-47 start to his tenure.

Despite the newfound job security, Conroy’s job isn’t getting any easier, as Tulane transitions from Conference USA into the American Athletic Conference next year. The move from C-USA, which sent just one team to the NCAA Tournament, into the AAC which sent five teams – including reigning national champion Connecticut – is a steep climb in competition.

“The question we have to ask to going forward is whether our trend is going to allow us to compete at a high level in the new league,” Dickson said last month. “We anticipate a steep and challenging curve. The bar is higher now, and it’s going to take another level of recruits, which I think we will see starting this spring.

“They know about the arena this league offers, which means better exposure, better television and everything that comes along with it. We have to step it up, and we see that happening.”